Five sports events to look forward to…

By Harry Shorthose

1 Rep of Ireland v Georgia

Rep of Ireland are in a commanding position in their World Cup qualifying group going into the international fixtures. Martin O’Neill’s men are in second place in their group, trailing Serbia only on goal difference.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill will be looking for a positive result in Georgia on Saturday

They will be eyeing three points from their encounter with minnows Georgia but they won’t have it all their own way as the reverse fixture between the two teams ended in a stalemate. Ireland v Georgia is on RTE Two and Sky Sports Football from 4pm. Kick-off at 5pm.

2 All-Ireland senior hurling championship final

The Déise take on the Tribesmen in Croke Park on Sunday to decide who takes home the Liam MacCarthy Cup. It promises to be an intriguing match-up between two teams who have waited so long to win the championship.

Derek McGrath’s Waterford have a date with destiny on Sunday

It will be a close game with many tipping Galway to edge the encounter. Derek McGrath’s Waterford have impressed so far this year coming through the qualifiers by beating Offaly, Wexford, Kilkenny and Cork on their way to the final. Galway cruised through to the final having won the Leinster Championship earlier in the summer. Waterford v Galway will be on RTE Two from 3.30pm on Sunday.

3 Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons

Leinster face a trip to Wales to face Bernard Jackman’s Newport Gwent Dragons side on Saturday in the newly named Guinness Pro 14. Leo Cullen’s men had a disappointing season last season, losing 27-15 in the semi-Final against eventual winners, Scarlets.

Bernard Jackman’s Dragons host Leinster on Saturday

They will be hoping to build on that and get back to winning trophies this season. From a Carlow point of view, Sean O’Brien is still on the way back to full fitness after a busy summer which saw him travel to New Zealand with the Lions while Tom Daly picked up a knee injury in their pre-season friendly in Perpignan which will see him miss a number of months.

However Bryan and Ed Byrne are hoping to force their way into the starting XV. Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons is on Sky Sports Action at 3.15pm.

4 US Open Tennis

With Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray all out with injuries, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be clear favourites for the men’s title at Flushing Meadows.

Can Roger Federer do it again at Flushing Meadows?

On the women’s side of the draw, Garbine Muguruza, Johanna Konta, Karolina Pliskova and Angelique Kerbed will all fancy their chances of winning the title. Federer and Muguruza are the Wimbledon champions and will have momentum. The US Open is live on Eurosport throughout the week.

5 NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day

Finals day in the ‘Blast’ is always one of the highlights of the English cricket season. In the first semi-final, Birmingham Bears take on Glamorgan whilst in the second, Hampshire take on the Notts Outlaws. The winners of each then face off against each other in the final later that evening. T20 finals day starts from 10am on Saturday.